Verbena x hybrida plant named &#39;verena&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  Verbena  plant named ‘Verena’ particularly distinguished by its deeppink flower, incised leaves, early flowering and a spreading habit that is first sermi-erect and later spreading.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED

Verbena×hybrida

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

‘Verena’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new distinct cultivar of Verbena,botanically known as Verbena×hybrida. The new cultivar is propagatedfrom cuttings resulting from the cross of ‘W720’ and ‘T593’. ‘W720’ is arose flowering Verbena having a spreading habit. ‘W720’ is notcommercially available and is not known by any synonyms. ‘T593’ is ascarlet flowering Verbena having a semi-erect habit. ‘T593’ is notcommercially available and is not known by any synonyms. Neither ‘W720’or ‘T593’ has been patented. As a result of this cross the presentcultivar was created in 1999 in Enkhuizen, Netherlands and has beenrepeatedly asexually reproduced by cuttings in Enkhuizen, Netherlandsand Sarrians, France over a three year period. It has been found toretain its distinctive characteristics through successive propagations,and this novelty appears to be firmly fixed.

This new Verbena plant is an annual in most climatical zones in the US,only in zones 9 and 10 it is aperennial plant.

DDESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

This new Verbena plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographicdrawing which shows blooms, buds and foliage of the plant in fullcolour, the colour shown being as true as can be reasonably obtained byconventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of this new Verbena. The data which defines thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inEnkhuizen, Netherlands. The plant history was taken on 14 weeks oldplants, blossomed under natural light in a greenhouse. Colour readingswere taken in the greenhouse under ambient light. Colour references areprimarily to the RHS Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society ofLondon.

Specification of Differences with Parents and Most Resembling Variety

Character ‘Temari ‘Verena’ ‘W720’ ‘T593’ coral rose’ Flowercolordeeppink rose scarlet coral rose Earliness early very early late lateSeedset no no much abundant Leave double double no no incision incisedincised incisions incisions

The Plant

-   Classification—botanical: Verbena×hybrida.-   Parentage—female parent: A seedling named ‘W720’ is one of our    seedlings from our W-generation of plants bred in 1994. — Pollen    parent A seedling named ‘T593’ is one of our seedlings from our    T-generation of plants bred in 1991.-   Growth habit: Semi-erect later spreading.-   Plant height: 18-26 cm.-   Spreading area of plant: 32-60 cm.-   Growth rate: Hanging and vigorous.-   Strength: Resistant to hot and cool weather.-   Branching character: Freely branching and lateral branching at every    node.-   Blooming period: From April till November.

The Stem

-   Diameter: 2 to 2.5 mm.-   Shape: Tetragonal.-   Anthocyan pigmentation: Present.-   Colour: 141C.-   Length of internode: 25 to 35 mm, depending on the light where the    plant is propagated.-   Pubescence: Pubescence is present.

The Foliage

-   Phyllotaxis: Opposite.-   Shape of blade: Broadly ovate.-   Texture upper side: Smooth lower side: Smooth.-   Venation: Pinnate.-   Leaf margin: Laciniate.-   Leaf base: Hastate.-   Leaf apex: Acute.-   Length: 16 to 25 mm.-   Width: 14 to 22 mm.-   Depth of incision: 8 to 10 mm.-   Number of incisions: 2 to 5 per leaf.-   Colour—upper side: 141B — Lower side 138B.-   Pubescence: Some pubescence is present.-   Length of leaf stem: 8 to 12 mm.-   Petiole surface structure: Slightly pubescent.

The Bud

-   Peduncle length: 20 to 30 mm, depending on season.-   Size—Diameter: 2 mm — Length: 8 to 10 mm.-   Shape: Elongated and ovate.-   Colour: 137C.-   Sepals—colour: 138C — Form: Upright — Number 5, fused — Size 5 mm —    Shape Elongated.

The Flower

-   Facing direction: Upward.-   Outward curvature of petal: Slightly curved.-   Diameter: 14 to 18 mm.-   Height: 14 to 16 mm.-   Borne: In a cluster.-   Form: Salverform; sessile on terminal spikes.-   Cluster: Spike.-   Colour: 37A.-   Eye: A very small (1 mm) greenish eye (155B) is present Typically    three out of the five petals exhibit this greenish coloration.-   Overlapping of petals: Separate.-   No. of petals: Gamopetalous, Slobed.-   Shape of the petals: Each petal is heart shaped at the apex and    grown together at the base.-   Petal margin: Entire.-   Petal surface texture: Smooth.-   Size of the petal—length: 4 to 6 mm — Width: 5 to 8 mm.-   Spike—length: 32 to 40 mm — Diameter 35 to 45 mm.-   Calyx length: 8 to 10 mm.-   Anthocyan pigmentation of calyx limb: Absent.-   Color of the calyx: 137A.-   No. of flowers per spike: 25 to 45.-   Fragrance: A very light rosy fragrance.-   Lastingness of the bloom: New florets continue to open in one spike    over a period of 14 days.

Reproductive Organs

-   Androecium:    -   -   Stamens quantity.—4.        -   Anther shape.—ovoid.        -   Anther length.—1 mm.        -   Anther color.—144C.        -   Pollen amount.—no pollen.-   Gynoecium:    -   -   Pistils quantity.—1.        -   Pistil length.—1.8 to 2.2 cm.        -   Stigma shape.—bi-lobed.        -   Stigma color.—144C.        -   Style length.—1.6 cm.        -   Style color.—144D.        -   Ovary color.—144C No seedset is observed.

Roots

-   Type of roots: Fibrous. Roots start to grow on every part of the    stem that contacts the soil, so not only at the nodes.

Physiological and Ecological Characteristics

Good tolerance to heat and cold. Strong resistance to pests anddiseases, particularly powdery mildew.

1. A new and distinct variety of Verbena plant, substantially as hereinillustrated and described, characterized particularly as to novelty bydeeppink flowers, which appear earlier on the plant, by inciseddarkgreen leaves and a growing habit that is first semi- erect and laterspreading.